By Dan Murphy
So far, two Westchester Towns have opted out of the upcoming legalization of the sale and consumption of marijuana in New York State, at dispensiaries and cafes in local communities. The Town of Eastchester and the Town of Yorktown have both opted out, and any other Towns that wish to do so must have their local governments vote by the end of 2021.
Eastchester and Yorktown are both led by Republican town supervisors and town boards. The third Westchester community with a republican supervisor and town board is in Harrison. We recently received this letter to the editor.
“Mr. Murphy, I have been reading your Westchester Rising newspaper about the legalization of marijuana. I live in Harrison, with my children and grandchildren. I see that Eastchester and Yorktown have opted-out of allowing any stores to see marijuana or to open any type of café that allows people to buy and smoke.
“I was wondering what about Harrison? We have a republican supervisor, Mr. Belmont, and a republican majority on the town board. Why hasn’t our community also opted out? It is also my understanding that Belmont is not running for re-election this fall. I would ask him to move forward and opt out before he leaves office. I don’t want my grandchildren walking next to a store that sells marijuana and allows smoking inside. That’s now what Harrison is all about. Please provide details if you have any,” sincerely Louise DiNapoli, Harrison.
Thanks for your letter. After speaking with both republicans and democrats in Harrison, there is bi-partisan support to opt-out. As one leader in Harrison told us, “the tax revenues that we may receive are not worth it. There is no support here to allow it.”
What may be surprising to some is that several Westchester communities are heading towards opting out, including the City of Rye and the Town of Mamaroneck. One sound shore leader we spoke to said, “At first I was surprised to find that several sound shore communities, and Scarsdale, are seriously looking to opt out.”
But others we spoke to said that it would be foolish for all of the wealthier communites to opt out in Westchester. “Marijuana is the law in New York State. And some residents in those communities would be surprised home many of their neighbors and friends are using marijuana for health reasons but also to relax, just like having a glass of wine.”
If a Town government opts out by the end of the year, then supporters of allowing marijuana in their town can petition for a referendum vote of the public to determine the final outcome. All of that will happen in 2022, with the actual sale and storefronts selling legal pot to come probably in 2023, as State regulations, licensing and boards of review slow to being formed in Albany.
